Rogers picked for AFL showcase

Brewers pitching prospect Mark Rogers, who has followed a long road back from injuries, was honored Monday night with a spot in the Arizona Fall League’s upcoming Rising Stars showcase game.

The exhibition, set for Saturday at 7:15 p.m. CT in Surprise, Ariz., features current AFL participants selected by scouting and Minor League directors from every organization, along with input from AFL executive director Steve Cobb.

For the first time, the Showcase will also be available to a national television audience. MLB Network will carry a live broadcast of the Rising Stars Game with Diamondbacks announcer Daron Sutton and MLB Network’s Tony Clark in the broadcast booth. A live video feed will also be available on MLB.com.

Nationals uber-prospect Stephen Strasburg, the No. 1 overall pick in last June’s Draft, is part of the “East Division” squad, and he’s in line to start Saturday’s showcase after having his pitching schedule shifted this week. Rogers is part of the West Division but he’s not scheduled to start. That honor will likely go to Braves prospect Mike Minor.

Rogers last pitched on Halloween, when he allowed a run in one inning of work. In his first five Fall League appearances, only one of them a start, he allowed 10 runs, 10 hits and eight walks versus five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings. That after a tremendous season at Class A Brevard County, where Rogers posted a 1.63 ERA in 23 games and struck out more than a batter an inning.

Passed-over for the AFL showcase were deserving Brewers prospects Jonathan Lucroy and Zach Braddock. Through his last appearance on Oct. 30, Lucroy, a catcher, was hitting .385 in seven games with two home runs and five RBIs. Braddock, a left-hander, notched his second AFL save on Monday and has a 1.04 ERA through seven appearances.

Click here to see the fill list of prospects picked for the Rising Stars Game.

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